Howard William Elliott passed away at Mercy Medical Center May 13. He was born to Howard Olen Elliott and Dorothy Mae Lazier on Oct. 31, 1928, in Rugby, N.D. Howard graduated from Towner High School, Towner, N.D., in1946.After graduation, Howard began his lifelong passion of ranching, working as a cowboy at the Ellsworth Ranch in Towner. In the spring of 1949, Howard went west to Montana and continued to work as a cowboy on the Overby Farm.
It was here that Howard met his future wife, Donna Lou Thoreson. They were united in marriage in 1949 in Plentywood, Mont. The newlyweds moved back to Towner and began ranching on the Thoreson Farm. In 1952, the couple and their two young children headed west once again. Howard worked on the Hardy Ranch in Dalzell, S.D. for over a year before moving to Red Owl to start his own cattle operation. It was here that their next four children were born. The family of eight left Red Owl and eventually settled in Colorado.
The next several years Howard worked on the Hill and Stuart Ranches in the Kremmling area. In the fall of 1971 Howard became manager of Lindner Ranches. He dedicated the next 22 years to building a successful cattle ranching operation. Under Howard’s leadership, Lindner Ranches grew from one small cattle herd to several ranches and a 2,000 cow/calf operation. The job involved long hours and hard work, but Howard loved his life in the mountains of Colorado. After retiring, Howard and Donna stayed in Colorado to be near their children and ended up in Pagosa Springs.
Howard was preceded in death by his parents, Howard Olen and Dorothy Mae Elliott; and sisters Donna Koshak, Jean Cox, Nellie Ertle and Betty Lyberger. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Donna Lou Thoreson, sons Kalen (Kathy) Elliott, Jeffrey Elliott, daughters Lori (Terry) Carter, Kathy (Bill) Clark, Suzanne (Grant) Riddick and Jill (Rusty) McKee, 14 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and three step-grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Services will be held Sunday, May 18, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Pagosa Springs. Visitation will be at 1 p.m. with a service to follow at 2 p.m. A reception will be held at the church following graveside services.
Donations can be made to the Our Savior Lutheran School in Pagosa Springs.
